http://www.tinklenberg08.com/news_10-6.html For Immediate Release 10/6/08
Contact: John Wodele, 612-987-6203
Blaine, MN – Sixth District Congressional candidate El Tinklenberg released the following statement today on the House passage of the Unemployment Extension Compensation Act of 2008 (H.R. 6867). Congresswoman Michele Bachmann was one of only 28 House members to vote against the bill, which passed the House Friday by a margin of 368-28.
“Congresswoman Bachmann has no idea how tough things are getting for the working class in this economy,” Tinklenberg said. “When unemployment was below four percent, she called Minnesota the ‘workingest state in the nation’ and said proudly that many folks were working two or even three jobs to pay their bills. Now with unemployment over six percent and the credit crisis on Wall Street causing massive layoffs on Main Street, Bachmann and just 27 other House members voted to pull the plug on unemployment benefits.”
The bill extends federal unemployment benefits for another seven weeks in every state, plus an additional 13 weeks in states with unemployment rates higher than six percent. Every member of the Minnesota Congressional delegation voted for the bill except Rep. Bachmann.
“The least we can do for workers right now is not kick them while they’re down. Friday the vast majority of Congress realized how much harder it was about to get for people who’ve lost their jobs and whose benefits are running out. Unfortunately, our Congresswoman was not among them. There should be no doubt that when I’m in Congress I will side with Minnesota workers, not the bankers and brokers who helped derail our economy.”
Tinklenberg is endorsed by the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, the Minnesota Independence Party, the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition, and 34 labor groups.